'Sensitive and challenging'

Dr Croft said this week's meeting "went well" and was a "good constructive time".

He said: "More than 1,300 people have engaged over two or three days, each with what is a really sensitive and challenging question for the churches.

"The bishops will be in conversation during the autumn and we have agreed together that we will keep that conversation confidential so it can deepen and flourish and we will bring something back to the General Synod in February, or possibly in July, next year.

"Then the wider church will then become involved in reflecting on what the bishops have emerged with."